A concerned councillor believes the district is now more vulnerable than ever to speculative developers after a damning report by a planning inspector further delayed the area’s Local Plan.

In a letter to Braintree, Colchester and Tendring councils last week, planning inspector Roger Clews said the authorities’ proposals for three garden settlements were ambitious but lacking - sending the authorities back to the drawing board.

District councillor James Abbott (Green, Silver End and Cressing) said the area was now exposed to speculative developments with another delay to the Local Plan.

He said: “Politely put, the letter is nothing short of a devastating demolition of Braintree Council’s plans for their so-called garden communities along the A120.

“West Tey is the elephant in the room and has resulted in the Local Plan stalling, the A12 route agreement being put back and now potentially a rethink on the A120 route.

“Meanwhile the serious risk going forward is that even more land will need to be found around towns and villages.

“The further delay to the Local Plan leaves the district vulnerable to volume developers trying to get permission on even more unallocated greenfield sites such as we have seen at Rivenhall, Silver End and Cressing.”

Mr Abbott called for a change in direction with Braintree Council’s housing policies.

“A rethink should now include reducing both the number and the size of the proposed garden communities to a scale that can be delivered as well as a review of the decision making process,” he said.

“We do need a Local Plan as soon as possible - which allocates the right amount and types of houses in the right places with the necessary supporting services.”

A spokesman for Braintree Council said: “We know that speculative development is an issue – that’s why it’s important to get the local plan right in the long-term to protect our villages and towns.”